TRANSNATIONAL REWORKINGS OF THE DRACULA MYTH: CASE STUDY ON ELIZABETH KOSTOVA’S THE HISTORIAN AND PER OLOF EKSTROM’S THE SON OF THE DRAGON
TRANSNATIONAL REWORKINGS OF THE DRACULA MYTH: CASE STUDY ON ELIZABETH KOSTOVA’S THE HISTORIAN AND PER OLOF EKSTROM’S THE SON OF THE DRAGON

Summary/Abstract: My paper deals with the implications of the transnational circulation of one of the most popular literary myths of the last century – the legend of the vampire, and investigates whether this myth has more to do with forays into Romanian national history or with a globalized legend, since the persona of Dracula, be it a vampire or a historical character, has never ceased to fascinate the lovers of literature, readers and writers alike from several countries. The two novels I will be looking at are remarkable examples of the deep earnestness with which the myth has been approached fictionally in contemporary times. Looking back to the original source of inspiration, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, my paper proposes to discuss the efficacy of historical knowledge in exploiting this age-old myth. While Kostova’s novel is a modern popular reworking of Stoker’s endeavor, Ekstrom’s contribution to the topic is less well-known but equally fascinating in reviving the magnetic personality of the “dark prince” of Wallachia. In this context, Stoker’s book may be called a transnational canonic work of literature, being the source of inspiration for the efforts of such contemporary writers as my paper discusses, whose works allow the reader generous insights into history as well as into the local habits and folklore from the South-East of Europe. The dilemma which confronts the readers of these novels could be the following: is the myth just a pretext for delving into the delicacies of history or does history ultimately become the victim of the blood-thirsty myth?

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